2016 03 10 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
MARCH 10, 2016
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Regular Work Session on Thursday,
March 10, 2016, at 5:35 P.M., in the Hullum Conference Room of the Baytown City Hall, 2401
Market Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance:
Brandon Capetillo
Robert Hoskins
David McCartney
Chris Presley
Mercedes Renteria
Terry Sain
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Stephen DonCarlos Mayor
Rick Davis
City Manager
Ignacio Ramirez
City Attorney
Leticia Brysch
City Clerk
Keith Dougherty
Sergeant at Arms
Mayor DonCarlos convened the March 10, 2016, City Council Regular Work Session with a
quorum present at 5:35 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Council Member
Renteria who arrived at 5:42 P.M. and Council Member Capetillo who arrived at 5:50 P.M.
1. DISCUSSIONS
a. Discuss the future of the ACE District and the Downtown Empowerment Zone.
City Manager Davis presented that agenda the item to discuss the marketing plan for moving
forward with the Arts, Culture Entertainment (the "ACE ") District. He stated that staff met and
compiled some possible options for Council's review, comments, and direction to help attract the
types of businesses wanted into the vacant buildings in this area. The goal of these ideas is to
continue to receive a good return on the City's investment in the ACE by creating an area that is
a center for community life. City Manager Davis introduced Mrs. Tiffany Foster, Director of
Planning and Development Services and Mr. BJ Simon, Associate Director of the Economic
Development Foundation (the "BDF ") to present an overview of the ACE District, as well as,
possible incentives and marketing ideas.
Mrs. Foster outlined the boundaries of the ACE, which is a larger area than just those buildings
along Texas Avenue. She stated that the ACE is totally included in the new Downtown
Empowerment Zone (the "Empowerment Zone "), which allows for some financial incentives to
those businesses in this area, such as free impact and permit fees and tax abatements depending
on what is put on the ground. She stated that the ACE, specifically those businesses fronting
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March 10, 2016
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Texas Avenue, also benefit from the City's Facade Program, in which the City provides up to
50% of the cost of the facade up to $20,000 or 50% of the side of the building up to $10,000.
Mrs. Foster stated that the previously mentioned programs are already in existence and available
to those interested in the ACE. She stated that the uses currently allowed in the ACE under the
United Land Development Code (the "ULDC ") include: dwelling units, depending on whether it
fronts Texas Avenue, whether it should be on the second floor, or to the side etc.; entertainment
facilities, such as bars and lounges; grocery stores; hotels; office buildings; outdoor sales;
personal services; places of assembly; retail; qualified family; and one of the newest uses added
this last year, custom manufacturing, such as micro - breweries, custom jewelry, etc. She noted
that currently the ACE has the following businesses in operation: a hair shop, an eye glasses
shop, a pool hall, two bars, one art gallery, and a few resale shops. However, the City is aware of
new businesses coming into the area such as; an insurance office, an apartment building, and
some other retail shops. Ms. Foster noted that City staff will within the next few weeks; reach
out to the owners of a few of the buildings on Texas Avenue to encourage them to develop their
facilities.
During her closing presentation, Mrs. Foster stated that the Council should consider changing the
parking allowances in the ACE to accommodate the special circumstances of the commercial
buildings in this area by expanding the on street parking throughout the entire ACE instead of
just in the four blocks surrounding Texas Avenue, as well as, expanding the facade program to
more businesses surrounding the Town Center and not just those that are fronting on Texas
Avenue.
During further discussion, Mr. Simon stated that Council directed the EDF to actively market the
Brunson Theater and the Old Citizen's Bank buildings, but unfortunately there's been no
response to their outreach. He stated that there's been a challenge on how to provide incentives
for the buildings in this area, specifically the Brunson, the Citizen's Bank and the Red Fox,
considering that the plaza has been so successful. He further stated that there are a number of
municipalities in Texas that have backfill strategies in targeted areas, that the City of Baytown
could use to help strengthen the ACE. Mr. Simon stated that there are some uses in the ACE, not
already mentioned by Mrs. Foster, which could also be added in order to allow for live outdoor
exhibitions, office space, and some light manufacturing. He stated that one thing that was looked
at in the past that could be helpful now is the idea of incentivizing land lords /owners within the
ACE to use the facade program or consider other types of improvements.
Mr. Simon stated that the City still owns property along the plaza, which could be used as some
sort of mid -rise project, hotel, or other infill project. He stated that there are also a number of
areas and projects just outside of the Empowerment Zone that could be catalytic to development
within the ACE; such as, the Ward Kroger Project. He stated that the City could begin to identify
projects just outside of the Empowerment Zone that could help jump start development that will
spill over into the ACE. He stated that another challenge is the gateways and arterials coming off
of State Highway 146, in which there are some areas, such as the Walgreens on Texas Avenue
and Alexander that is in the Empowerment District, but not in the ACE. He further stated that in
looking at this area from a macro perspective, there are three main assets to one side of Texas
Avenue: (1) Lee College, (2) the Early Impact High School, and (3) the potential development of
the old San Jacinto Hospital, in addition to the before mentioned incentives that could all be
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March 10, 2016
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catalyst and could help bring in the private development to help revitalize this entire area both
within and surrounding the ACE.
Mayor DonCarlos inquired about a cohesive marketing plan for vacant buildings in this area,
such as that used in Waxahachie whereas their marketing program had past and present pictures
of vacant old buildings that include on the buildings themselves the broker contact and asking
price, which helps entice developers to purchase and update the structures. In response to Mayor
DonCarlos's inquiry, Mr. Simon stated that an effort like this would have to be researched and
the property owners would have to be canvassed to gage their interest in participating in such a
program. Mr. Simon further stated that in the past, he found that the property owners showed
little interest in doing any enhancements to their buildings, but that they could engage them again
to see if there's new interest in participating in selling or any other enhancement opportunities.
Council Member Renteria stated that from his understanding most of the buildings on Texas
Avenue were already purchased by people that were interested in buying the properties because
of the investments the City was undertaking on Texas Avenue and is not certain that they want to
sell. He further stated that he didn't believe the City needed to provide any more incentives to
this area, as they've already invested millions of dollars on Texas Avenue with the streetscapes
and the new town center, therefore let free enterprise decide what's going in on Texas Avenue.
Council Member Presley stated that he researched the Empowerment Zone extensively and made
sure that all underserved or economically depressed areas of the City were included in said zone,
which included parts of District One and Six. He stated that the City has made a huge investment
in the ACE and wanted to protect that investment to ensure that the ACE remains safe, family
oriented, and is more viable. He further stated that he would like to see a more comprehensive
plan or vision of what Council wants to see in the ACE, so that the area remains family and
community oriented rather becoming a bar district.
During further discussion, Council discussed the various businesses that are currently in the area,
the possibility of more bars going into the area, the inclusion of the sale of snacks and foods with
future bars, and other viable uses in the ACE.
Council Member McCartney stated that making any big changes on Texas Avenue is premature
as there hasn't been enough time since the completion of the town square to see what types of
uses or businesses are coming into the area. Additionally, he stated that Council should look at
programs to incentivize housing and businesses that cater toward college age students, which
will help Lee College.
Council Member Hoskins stated that he believed that there should be a comprehensive plan for
what Council wants to see on Texas Avenue and one type of use, such as bars, should not over
take the area. He stated that in order to help Texas Avenue be successful, Council should look at
those streets parallel to Texas Avenue and surrounding the ACE, and include these areas in the
policy and incentive programs. He further asked if the City had a plan for the ACE and/or if
there was research of what other cities had done to revitalize their downtown areas and were
successful; such as, Grapevine, Fort Worth, Waxahachie, etc.
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March 10, 2016
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Council Member Capetillo stated that he would like to see a study of what is currently on Texas
Avenue versus what is wanted in this area.
Council Member Sain stated that he did not want to create a sixth street environment on Texas
Avenue, but rather look at creating a family friendly environment for people of all ages,
specifically cultural and art programs.
Mr. Simon stated that the master plan for Texas Avenue was created back in 2004, and since
then the City has created the ACE, the facade program, the ULDC, the Empowerment Zone and
other incentive /marketing studies and programs to assist this area. He further stated that being in
the 12th year of actively working towards the redevelopment of this area there's been
some successes; however, he also stated that there are a number of options that the City can look
at, including but not limited to looking at specific programs for best practices /uses for the vacant
buildings, as well as, all of the above mentioned plans which can be re- evaluated and updated to
the needs of the current council.
Mayor DonCarlos stated that his objective for Texas Avenue has always been a combination of
public and private investment to create a well - balanced and healthy downtown area. He stated
that in his opinion, too much of one type of use is not healthy and that the City needed to begin
crafting a policy with procedures and incentives that will encourage a good, healthy mix of
business, entrainment and art, along with some type of residential structures, such as townhomes
or multi - family projects. Additionally, he recommended that staff look at other cities that have
been successful as it relates to policies, incentives, programs, etc.
City Manager Davis stated that the consensus from the Council was for staff to undertake more
research, look at other model cities that have successfully revitalized their downtown, review
current ground activity as it relates to business and uses, then present Council with options for
updating the model and /or plans for the ACE District.
b. Discuss any or all of the agenda items on the City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
for March 10, 2016, which is attached below.
This item was not discussed.
2. ADJOURN
With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor DonCarlos adjourned the March 10,
2016, City Council Regular Work Session at 6:27 P.M.
City of Baytown